3.The Hundred Years’War（1337-1453）

At the end of the 13th century，the English possessions on the European continent were greatly reduced.Normandy and other dependencies had been laid in the hands of the French kings.When the 14th century began，commerce and manufacture grew apace in England，and England soon developed into a stronger state in Europe.Consequently the rich desired to control more market，while the nobility with the king as their head wanted to regain their lost territories on the Continent.This was the basic cause of the Hundred Years’War between France and England.The economic causes of the war were connected with Flanders where the Flemish cloth manufacturing towns were the importers of English wool.These towns owned political allegiance to the French king，and the French objected to the wool-based economic ties between England and Flanders and taxed the wool trade heavily.Also，Edward Ⅲof England had a claim to the French throne through his mother，a sister of the late French king.The French refused to recognize this claim because of the Salic Law which excluded all females and those claiming through them from succeeding to the throne.It was clear that the dynastic claim was always an excuse for Edward Ⅲ，and not a serious cause of the Hundred Years’War.After all，when Edward Ⅲclaimed the French crown the war began in 1337.

The war lasted intermittently from 1337to 1453.During the early stage the English were on the offensive and won some successes.Henry Ⅴof England was once recognized as heir to the French throne，and his baby son was acknowledged king of France and England in 1422.In the last stage，when the French peasants came in under the famous peasant girl，Joan of Arc⁴，the French began to act on the offensive.At last the English were completely defeated and driven from France except for the port of Calais.Then the war ended in 1453.

Joan of Arc Was Burned Alive

During the Hundred Years’War England underwent important political，economic and social changes.While the king was busy with his war，the English parliament developed rapidly towards its present form.The common people’s representatives got into the habit of meeting privately to discuss their business before they joined the lords.Later the parliament divided into three parts：a House of Commons，a House of Lords，and a small permanent council which later became the cabinet.In economy，the English failure to conquer Flanders led the Government to encourage the home woolen industry.With more and more Flemish craftsmen immigrating into the country，England became more a manufacturer of cloth and less a mere producer of raw wool.By the 15th century England was supplying most of her own needs and beginning to export cloth abroad.The war accelerated the breakdown of feudal society.During the long war the English kings could not fight with just the feudal levies，but also engaged mercenaries；and many English peasants enlisted in the army for wages and became full-time professional soldiers.The vast expenditure of treasure for war consequently put the money class，the new-born bourgeoisie in a more important position in the English society.